The Barton Family Blog

This year I wanted to do something special for Johnny for his birthday... I planned a night out with the guys... hosted by Jason and Josiah (in Jason & Naomi's future apartment!).... We invited all the guys from church and I provided brownies and other snacks for the evening. Even tho it was a guy's night out, I wanted to be there to video his surprise (for the blog of course!)... so after Johnny left home, my friend and I snuck out and beat him to their apartment. Jason's excuse for getting him there was a "band practice" - just for him to learn a new bass part.... so he had called Johnny and told him to come a little later because "he got off work late..."... Anyways... so my angel Johnny... decided to be suspicious. He drove around the HUGE parking lot LOOKING for my car... or any other car he recognized! What a stinker! And he found them... so he came prancing up the stair wearing my friend's sunglasses that he found in my car! Jason said s...

For those of you who have ever been in my house you know that Natalee has slept in this: since she was born. .. Once a Co-Sleeper, it's now just a playpen that worked quite nicely in our old house. We were able to move the bed quickly from the living room to the bedroom w/ out taking it apart (a bonus when you live in a one bedroom!) Well since we have moved, new sleeping arrangements have been in the works... and today... Wah-lah! Finally! A new crib! (and boy is this momma proud!) I feel like I have a new baby with Natalee in a really-true-crib! This crib was Johnny's crib when he was a baby. My father-in-law took it apart and painted it to match my changing table. Isn't it sweet? Isn't he sweet? I know, most people reading this aren't that thrilled but I AM!!! My mother-in-love, (as Patti calls Mother-in-laws...) made the bumper pads, quilt, and sheets... She also made the other coordinating stuff... diaper sack (as pictured below) and changing table sheets... ...

A friend of mine gave me her turtle sandbox to use as a pool! I figured it works just as well as a kiddie pool... and it has a lid! Natalee and Kyah played in it today for the first time! Got some cute shots in spite of the fact that Natalee was grumpy and losing it! They just look so cute in their little swimsuits! I love it! Kyah had a blast! Stop taking pictures mom! I'm not having fun anymore!!

Tuesday morning, July 15th, we headed for a morning trip to the zoo with my friend Tauni, and her two kids, Elizabeth (age 21 months) and Ezra (age 4 months) (not pictured because he's in a front pack that I'm wearing!) ... Elizabeth is at that great age where she really started noticing animals and getting excited about them. Natalee was more interested this time, than last time... I think every trip will become more and more fun for her! I didn't get a ton of pictures... but I did get a few good ones (and of different animals than last time). They were both fascinated with the turtles. Natalee had never seen one and I haven't really introduced them even in books yet.... I don't know what she thought! The Hippo was in good plain view. Tauni kept asking Elizabeth if she could imagine one on those big hippos on a school bus! She said they sing a song about hippos on a school bus at library time and it's Elizabeth's favorite song! (: Next came the petti...

Natalee saying good-bye to Jen (with blue being the accent color!) I love playing with the color option on my camera (see the end of my last post) . This time I pulled the color red. Kyah's dress is so sweet.... it's just a bummer that the camera pulls the red in your cheeks, ears, etc... everything that you don't necessarily want accented... o well... it's still super cute!

Wrapping up Camp Natalee We started out our BUSY Saturday down at Great Harvest Bread Company for muffins & coffee... and then walked down the block to the Saturday Farmer's Market. Jen and Natalee were loving the bands set up everywhere and all the music! We wanted to get Jen's hair done by this incredible stylist there... but she (it figures!) wasn't there this week. We had fun just the same ! Today Natalee FINALLY let Jen feed her. Jen was so thrilled! Natalee is going through the independent stage and she often refuses the spoon when I try to feed her. For some reason she was in a sweet, non-independent mood, so Jen finally got to feed that baby! (: After that we headed to a baby shower for a girl at church, Cassie. Cassie is going to name her little girl Grace Carol. Jen had fun just hanging out with everyone from church and laughing at all the silly games (the girl who threw the shower had 8 games planned!) Saturday night we had a movie outreach for church....

Today we picked up Jen's camp Natalee t-shirt & (surprise!) key chain! The lady who made Jen's shirt this year is the same lady as last year... since she remembered us, she took extra time and even re-did Jen's shirt when she wasn't pleased with the way it turned out. Since she had the first shirt and the "fixed" one, she ended up giving us both shirts for the price of one (COOL!) Jen was pumped! We spent some time today working on completing Jen's Camp Journal... and adding last minute pictures.... Jen is so proud of her journal! She insists on showing it to everyone who comes over, and even wants to take it to church. It really is a sweet tribute to her week here at camp! I decided that Jen and I need a picture together since I'm always the one taking pictures! She had two of the same shirts so I threw one on and we posed for this picture. Too cute! (I use that word a lot huh?) Ok... too sweet! (: Jen wanted to go swimming again so we headed...

Camp Natalee: Thrifty Thursday Today we spent out and about! We shopped all over looking for a new mailbox for Jen. We finally found an upright one at Rite Aid. The next item on our list was a new blow dryer. We headed to Albany for that... and also to shop for a few summer items for me! We also stopped off at Walgreens to order pictures for Jen's journal and to make a few greeting cards of Camp Natalee. Jen likes to write cards and send them to a few friends and family membersThis picture is of Jen and Natalee and Walgreens, waiting for our prints! . We were busy busy busy, but Jen was excited to finally have her new blow dryer... and I was excited to have a few new clothing items! Woo hoo! Our trip could not be complete without a cup of coffee and then we headed home!

Camp Natalee: Wet Wednesday Jen, Natalee and I headed to the pool this morning for a nice relaxing swim! Natalee had more fun on the pool deck with the ball... she wasn't too into the pool! Jen swam some laps and enjoyed the sun... Going with the "Wet Wednesday" theme... Jen gave Natalee a bath today! Little did I know that Natalee had pooped in the tub!! Jen didn't notice till I came over to rinse Natalee's hair! Yuck! Thank goodness for sanitizers! That just about did me in (: This afternoon I had Kyah. I got some darling shots of her and Natalee playing one of their favorite games... "Close the door on each other while Mom tries to keep it open to prevent pinched fingers!" I finally figured out a trick for this one... I just turn the dead bolt and then they can't shut the door all the way! problem solved! Anyway... these girls are just too cute! I love how they "matched" a little bit today with the same colors... so I snapped quite a ...

Camp Natalee 2008 Jen was anxious to spend some time with the Rices so Patti and I planned Tuesday @ the fountain downtown. She had the Altringer kids with her so it was a perfect place to meet and let the kids play, while Jen got her Rice-a-Roni fix! It was a hot day but not too bad in the shade with the breeze... We should have got a pix of Jen with all the kids but I didn't think of it then ): Cute shot of Jen and Kenz I made sure to get a picture of Jen and Natalee sitting on the same rock as last year... it's a cute shot that shows just how much has changed in that year! July 2008 (15 months old) June 2007 (3 months old) What a little chunkers Natalee! Natalee and Jack-Jack were too cute, following each other around and sneaking kisses here and there. awwwwwww!!!